PROJECT TRACKER: Rebuilding Taunton City Hall

City Hall at 15 Summer St. has been closed since the morning of Aug. 17, 2010, when authorities say someone set an arson fire in the building’s fourth-floor attic.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze within 15 minutes, but water from fire hoses led to significant damage within walls, which were subsequently demolished.

Offices were moved into an empty building formerly known as Lowell Maxham School at 141 Oak St..

The progress

The city is moving closer to hiring a demolition company to tear down the vacant Leonard Block/Star Theater, a dilapidated, four-story structure that sits less than 20 yards from downtown City Hall.

Taunton took possession of the Star Theater in 2013 from former owner Michael O’Donnell, as per a housing court judge’s order. The judge determined that O’Donnell failed to comply with long-standing court orders to clean up and repair the site.

Officials say tearing down the Star will greatly facilitate the process of renovating and repairing City Hall. Estimates to rehabilitate City Hall have ranged from $15 million to $23 million.

BETA Group engineers are nearly through conducting a pre-demolition survey of the Star Theater, according to Building Department Superintendent Wayne Walkden.

The building not only abuts portions of the New York Lace building, it shares a common wall with that long-established business.

Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. has said he looks forward to the Star Theater’s demolition. He and other officials have characterized the Star Theater as a threat to public safety.

BETA will also provide engineering oversight once demolition is underway, Walkden said.

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